Man caught anthrax from drum skin

An inquiry into a man's death from anthrax has concluded that "on balance of probabilities" he contracted it from playing or handling West African drums.

Christopher Norris, of Stobs, near Hawick in the Scottish Borders died from the disease in July last year.

A report by NHS Borders said it was the first case of "inhalation anthrax" in the UK for more than a century.

Anthrax is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

It most commonly occurs in animals such as cattle, sheep and goats but can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals.

Health Protection Scotland has stressed that it cannot be passed from person to person.